大唐西域記 5.36

5.36

大城東，兩河交，廣十餘里，土地爽塏，細沙彌漫。自古至今，諸王、豪族，凡有捨施，莫不至止，周給不計，號大施場。今戒日王者，聿修前緒，篤述惠施，五年積財，一旦傾捨，於其施場，多聚珍貨。初第一日，置大佛像，眾寶莊嚴，即持上妙奇珍，而以奉施；次常住僧；次見前眾；次高才碩學、博物多能；次外道學徒，隱淪肥遁；次鰥寡孤獨，貧窮乞人。備極珍玩，窮諸上饌，如是節級，莫不周施。府庫既傾，服玩都盡，髻中明珠，身諸瓔珞，次第施與，初無所悔。既捨施已，稱曰：「樂哉！凡吾所有，已入金剛堅固藏矣。」從此之後，諸國君王各獻珍服。嘗不踰旬，府庫充仞。

At the present time Siladitya-raja, after the example of his ancestors, distributes here in one day the accumulated wealth of five years. Having collected in this space of the charity enclosure immense piles of wealth and jewels, on the first day he adorns in a very sumptuous way the statue of Buddha, and then offers to it the most costly jewels. Afterwards he offers his charity to the resident priests; afterwards to the priests (from a distance) who are present; afterwards to the distinguished persons who live in the place, following the ways of the world; and lastly, to the poor and destitute, orphans and desolate, poor and mendicants. Thus, according to this order, having exhausted his treasuries and given freely away his head diadem and jewelled garments, from first to the last he shows no regret. All being finished he cries with joy, "Well done! all that I have has entered into incorruptible and imperishable treasuries." After this the rulers of the different countries offer jewels and robes to replenish his treasury.

Lately there was a Brahman whose family name was Tseu (putra); he was a man of deep penetration and great learning, of lucid wit and high talent. This man coming to the temple, called to all the people and said, "Sirs, ye are of crooked ways and perverse mind, difficult to lead and persuade." Then he engaged in their sacrifices with them, with a view afterwards to convert them. Then he mounted the tree, and looking down on his friends he said, "I am going to die. Formerly I said that their doctrine was false and wicked; now I say it is good and true. The heavenly Rishis, with their music in the air, call me. From this fortunate spot will I cast down my poor body." He was about to cast himself down when his friends, having failed by their expostulations to deter him, spread out their garments underneath the place where he was on the tree, and so when he fell he was preserved. When he recovered he said, "I thought I saw in the air the Devas calling me to come, but now by the stratagem of this hateful (heretical) spirit (viz., of th< I have failed to obtain the heavenly jc To the east of the capital, between the two confli; of the river, for the space of 10 li or so, the ground is pleasant and upland. The whole is covered with a line sand. From old time till now, the kings and noble families, when they had occasion to distribute their wealth in charity, ever came to this place, and here gave away their goods; hence it is called the Great Charity Enclosure.